Mu’awiya...

Mu’awiya, therefore, being desirous of leaving the Caliphate to his son Yazid and thinking that he could not bring about his design so long as Hasan was alive, determined to get rid of him.”[^3] Mu’awiya hatched a plan to eliminate Imam Hasan (a.s.). Imam Hasan (a.s.) was poisoned by one of his wives at the instance of Mu’awiya who promised that he would get her married to his son Yazid.

In his last moments, Imam Hasan (a.s.) expressed his wish to be buried beside his grandfather the Holy Prophet (S) and in the event of any opposition, to bury him at the common burial ground of al-Baqee’, so that any conflict and consequent division among Muslims might be averted. When Imam Husayn (a.s.) took the bier in order to bury Imam Hasan (a.s.) beside the Prophet’s tomb, Mu’awiya incited Aa’isha to have arrows showered on the coffin of Imam Hasan (a.s.).

Thus, Imam Husayn (a.s.) was prevented from fulfilling the last wish of his brother. Imam Hasan (a.s.) was then buried in the graveyard of al-Baqee’ in Medina. The martyrdom of Imam Hasan (a.s.), further emboldened Mu’awiya in his evil designs. He issued orders that any one praising Imam Ali (S) or found relating traditions in praise of him or the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) should at once be beheaded, hanged, and cut into pieces.

He also instructed the leaders of congregations in every mosque to curse, blaspheme, and spread falsehood about Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and amply rewarded those who complied with this order. The greed of people encouraged them to invent ever-new traditions falsely attributed to the Prophet (S), praising the open enemies of Islam such as Marwan, Abu Sufyan, Mu’awiya… etc.

On the other hand, those, who refused to praise the Banu Umayya and other enemies of Islam, were punished severely. Maytham at-Tammar, who refused to curse Imam Ali (a.s.), was tortured, his limbs were torn apart, and his tongue was pulled out. His body was hung at the city center as a warning to those who did not obey Mu’awiya’s orders. Hijr bin Adiy al-Kindi (the great companion) was slaughtered for the same reason.

Muhammad, son of the first Caliph Abu Bakr, who had special love and regard for Imam Ali (a.s.), was killed and his body was stuffed in the skin of a donkey and was burnt. In the city of Basra alone, eight thousand persons, who declared their love and obedience for Imam Ali (a.s.) as a part of their faith, were meticulously traced and brutally killed.